The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and CBS Local 2 celebrated a 10-year partnership that culminated in $3 million in charitable grants and more than $1 million worth of broadcast airtime. As members of the Berger Foundation board presented a $25,000 grant check to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM) on a live television broadcast, it marked the $3 million mark of similar grants awarded to area nonprofit organizations.
“This celebration and culmination is something that the founders of the Berger Foundation would be proud of because it reflects the positive impact on so many lives,” said Ronald Auen, President of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. “Through the Coachella Valley Spotlight, we have presented grants to many different organizations each helping the community in various ways. It is our intention that through this partnership, these organizations receive money and media exposure, which may lead to more donations and volunteers.”
Since its inception, the Coachella Valley Spotlight has been awarded to a different 501(c)3 nonprofit each month. Past recipients include organizations that support children, seniors, veterans, the homeless, uninsured and underinsured residents, people living with debilitating medical conditions, animals, education, the arts, and more.
To commemorate the 10 years and $3 million milestones, CBS Local 2’s Eye on the Desert was broadcast live from a special event at the Classic Club in Palm Desert. All past Coachella Valley Spotlight recipients were invited to an appetizer reception, then to participate as the live audience for the special show, followed by a dessert celebration.
“To be chosen for this special celebration means the world to us. We are so grateful to the Berger Foundation and CBS Local 2,” said Darla Burkett, Executive Director of CVRM. “The Coachella Valley Spotlight grant means more beds, more meals and more services for the only emergency shelter in the Coachella Valley.”
In addition to the $25,000 grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, beneficiaries of the Coachella Valley Spotlight are featured on CBS Local 2’s community affairs program Eye on the Desert, in public service announcements, and on the station’s website, www.cbslocal2.com. CVRM is being featured on the show and in PSAs throughout November. For more information about CVRM visit cvrm.org. To learn more about the Coachella Valley Spotlight go to cbslocal2.com.
“It’s exciting to celebrate this milestone with the Berger Foundation and all the past Spotlight recipients,” said Jerry Upham, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company, which owns and operates CBS Local 2. “We’re looking forward to continue the partnership into an eleventh year, so that we can reach even more deserving charities in our area.”